Oilers 2023 Season End Of Year Grades- Evan Bouchard
As the NHL regular season approaches its halfway mark, it's time to review the performance of Evan Bouchard, the young defenseman of the Edmonton Oilers. Bouchard has been a promising prospect for the Oilers since he was drafted in 2018, and this season he has been given a bigger role on the team, playing in most situations and logging significant minutes.
Let's start with the basics. Bouchard has played in 32 games so far this season, recording 9 goals and 25 assists for a total of 34 points, which is an impressive output for a rookie defenseman. He has also averaged 22:34 minutes of ice time per game, which is the highest on the team, and has been a valuable asset on the power play this season, contributing with 4 goals and 16 assists on the man advantage.
But beyond the numbers, Bouchard has shown flashes of brilliance on the ice. He has a smooth skating stride, excellent vision, and a great shot from the point. He has also demonstrated maturity beyond his years, making smart plays under pressure and showing a willingness to learn from his mistakes.
One area where Bouchard has struggled is in his defensive play. He has been caught out of position at times and has had some costly turnovers. However, these are common growing pains for a younger defenseman, and Bouchard has shown a willingness to work on his defensive game and learn from his mistakes. As we can already see him making fewer mistakes than he did earlier this season.
Bouch. B+. . . Evan Bouchard
Overall, I would give Bouchard a B+ for his performance so far this season. While he has been impressive offensively, there is still room for improvement in his defensive game. However, given his age and experience, he has shown tremendous potential and is poised to become a top defenseman in the league in the years to come.
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As the Oilers look to make a deep playoff run this season, Bouchard will be a key player for the team. If he can continue to develop his defensive game while maintaining his offensive output, he will be a valuable asset for the team in all situations. With his skillset and potential, the sky is truly the limit for Evan Bouchard.